Stadium plans for accessibility
Jennifer Cohen has been in a wheelchair since she was a child, and a Saskatchewan Roughriders season ticket holder for nearly as long.
Her team’s home was built at a time when accessibility wasn’t much of a consideration, and despite the Roughriders efforts in accommodation, she battles with the building every game.
As a member of the city’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, she now has the opportunity to ensure the municipality considers a multitude of disabilities in its design of the new stadium.
“I want to try to make an effort to make it as good as it can be for people with disabilities,” she said.
A meeting in late August for the first time gave the disabilities community a voice in the stadium design by inviting them to discuss the project with the City of Regina, Roughriders and the U.S. architectural firm behind the building.
“What we found is that the accessibility features they are putting into that stadium are really quite exceptional,” said Bev Duncan, who works with Saskatchewan Voice of People with Disabilities.
“They haven’t just (followed the) building code but gone over and above that building code. I think that people going in there will be really impressed.”
The general design concepts released in May outlined a stadium that meets all accessible building codes, explained Kelly Scherr, construction and compliance director with the city. Now, the architectural team needs to nail down specific design elements through consultations such as this one.
“We know that we can do significantly better in the new stadium and we are excited about meeting that challenge,” said Scherr.
“It’s worth us planning well so that everybody can use this space. Someone told me once, ‘What you design well for people with accessibility challenges will also work really well for everybody else,’” she later added.
The new stadium will feature 157 accessible seats and 114 companion seats, versus the current 65 and 65. Companions will have seats adjacent to the person they are accompanying, as opposed to behind — something Cohen and her “sweetheart” will appreciate, she said. She also looks forward to having more options when it comes to seating location.
In addition, the number of accessible bathrooms is increasing to 38 from 22.
The sunken bowl design, with a wider, brighter main concourse at ground level, is a welcome change for people with visual and mobility disabilities as well. So, too, is the inclusion of nine elevators.
“THEY HAVEN’T JUST (FOLLOWED THE) BUILDING CODE BUT GONE OVER AND ABOVE THAT BUILDING CODE. I THINK THAT PEOPLE GOING IN THERE WILL BE REALLY IMPRESSED.” BEV DUNCAN
“I’ll be able to get to all levels. I’m thoroughly impressed with that,” said Terry Hart, a wheelchair user and Roughriders season ticket holder.
The employment coach with the South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre said the accessibility options at the current stadium are limited.
“Wheelchair accessibility wasn’t thought of when that thing was designed. It’s horrible, and right now, getting to and from where I sit, I almost need help at times.”
Scherr estimates that the stadium’s last building code renovation was in the 1970s, and accessibility requirements have changed “substantially” since then.
She said the city, Roughriders and stadium designers left the August meeting with a to-do list of further improvements. Accessible parking, which is limited and fills quickly, is a point of concern and will factor into a parking management strategy. Other considerations in the works are signage and way-finding for the visual and hearing impaired, changes to ticketing to help those with mobility or visual impairments, and the possibility of allowing families to accompany fans sitting in the accessible seating zone.
The team will continue to consult with the accessibility committee at future stages of the design process.
For fans like Hart, the “new stadium can’t come soon enough.”